Embracing Adventure: Finding Purpose in Calculated Risks

As I sat in our ski boat with my two sisters the other day, we fondly reminisced about the summers when our entire family would gather at the lake. I recalled how my cousins and I would engage in a game of launching grapes high into the air, attempting to catch them in each other's mouths. It seemed like harmless fun, but my younger sister, now a mother of two young boys, rightfully pointed out that it wasn't the smartest idea. This lighthearted conversation led us to reflect on the allure of adventure, characterized by excitement and, at times, hazards.

Adventure inherently involves an element of risk, and it's natural to be drawn in by the excitement it offers. At its extreme, this is why people love jumping out of planes that aren't crashing, why we drive fast on a deserted road or even love roller coasters!

Choking on a grape, your parachute not opening, or experiencing an abrupt halt when hitting a tree while driving too fast are all real possibilities. Despite this, we yearn for the thrill and joy that come with it.

In life and work, we are presented with various opportunities that offer us a choice between the comfort that we know and the thrill and excitement that lies in the potential adventure ahead.

This raises some essential questions:

• Is this the moment I have actually been waiting for?

• Do I really have what it takes?

• Where am I holding back and playing it safe?

• Am I putting my trust in my own abilities, or is my trust in God?

Sometimes when we are at the crossroads between comfort and adventure, fear can be paralyzing and prevent us from moving at all. However, I believe this could be the moment when taking a calculated risk could change your life forever. Taking calculated risks is not about recklessness or betting blindly on chance, but understanding that some opportunities are worth pursuing wholeheartedly, despite the potential hazards. What vision and purpose for your life are you willing to take some risks on, even though there will definitely be hazards along the way?

When we take calculated risks, its purpose and where we put our trust is crucial. Even though not all our choices are a matter of life and death, they can offer us a chance to really live and learn, and no matter what happens, both success and failure teach invaluable lessons about ourselves and about the character and nature of God.

The journey of embracing risks becomes a path to authenticity, patience, and the ability to overcome challenges. We discover our true selves and allow ourselves to continue evolving as individuals and children of God. This also allows us to see how God provides unwavering support, unconditional love, and miraculous outcomes. They become a source of comfort and strength when you're tempted to let fear paralyze you and play it safe. God has never let me down, and He won't let you down either. He can be trusted with your future.

I want to encourage you to assess your life and identify areas where taking calculated risks could supply a breath of fresh air. Maybe this is a simple reminder to enjoy the silly adventure of catching grapes in your mouth, or maybe you are called to something bigger like starting a new business, traveling the world, or asking that girl to marry you. That's up to you, but I can promise you that if you take the plunge, your life will never be boring.

It's worth the risk!